Unstable angina and ongoing issues

[Challenger2009]

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with unstable angina after going into hospital for a angogram in July and it being discovered I have issues with my arteries no stents fitted the person carrying out the angogram said medicine and lifestyle changes and if that didn't work it would be bypass surgery , I am struggling on a daily basis with chest, arm and jaw pain and fatigue I take my gtn spray but it rarely makes a difference and have been in contact with my GP who has referred me back to the cardiologist l, I desperately want to get back to work but am not anywhere near fit enough to get back, my wife is worried sick and would have me back at a@e but I refuse because I am stubborn and don't want to be in hospital stupid I know, does it ever get any better I am 43 years old and desperately want some normallaty.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

When you had your angiogram how many arteries were found to be narrowed and by how much. If GTN spray is not relieving your symptoms you need to go to A&E as it may be a heart attack that could have serious consequences! Speak with your GP jn the morning.

Have you made the lifestyle changes? When I was at rehab, following my bypass, I was suorised by the number of people who had not done the breathing exercises and were still eating unhealthily. And if you still have the odd cigarette it's a definite NO NO!

Good luck! And keep us updated.

[-007-]

I had a heart attack December 2016.Five stents March 2017.

Started getting stable angina again 8 to 10 months later.

Angiogram showed two of the stents had blocked back up and my arteries were (to use the surgeons words) in a mess.

I was scheduled to go in for bypass surgery the end of March 2020.

The stable angina turned to unstable angina beginning of March 2020.

One evening I had an "event" whilst sitting watching TV. GTN didn’t completely get rid of the symptoms. My wife wanted to phone 999. I said I didn’t want to make a fuss and I’m sure it’ll pass.

Next morning after my wife told me off enough I made an appointment at the GP surgery where the practitioner nurse told me off and said I should have phoned 999.

She called the doctor who also told me off and I should have phoned 999.

By now I was starting to feel a little foolish.

The doc said "I’m sending you to A&E.

I went to A&E and didn’t come back out of hospital until I had a quintuple bypass (CABGx5).

I have recovered from surgery (as much as you can ever recover I guess) but the one thing that I can never recover from is my wife being absolutely and totally right, and to make matters worse it was confirmed by two other people 😳

That I will have to live with for the rest of my life 😂😂😂😂😂

Hope that helps 👍

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-007- Licensed to Pill 💊

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[richard_jw]

Have you been prescribed any new meds? e.g a beta blocker like bisoprolol? If the meds are the same and you are still suffering you need urgent attention. Unstable angina does not go away and if meds are not helping, you need intervention. It sounds like you have not had a heart attack, so intervention could get you back to something nearer normal.Referrals to cardiologists can be a slow process. You have could present to A&E (believe me they will be more than happy to diagnose and treat you instead of the 100s of minor issues they deal with

or get to see a cardiologist quickly. Has the GP done an urgent referral?

You might be able to phone your NHS cardiologist's secretary and ask for a call from him/her. The other possibility is as I did once, see a cardiologist privately. In order to do that you would need copies of any tests including the angiogram on a CD. There are issues here like what then? If the private cardiologists view is clear, then NHS treatment should be quick.

When I saw a v experienced cardiologist privately, he changed 3 of my meds and the difference was remarkable and rapid. I had to make it ok with the NHS guy who might have been miffed

Good luck

[Hidden]

Hello

Please don't be stubborn if things don't seem right then listen to your wife and go back to A&E

I can be stubborn but when it comes to the heart this is the one thing we cannot afford to be stubborn with it is our life and we need to make sure everything is ok and we are on the right treatment

I have a similar story to you

Had my first heart attack in Oct was told meds would make me 73% protected but they didn't had another one in Feb then in March and now just had the triple Bypass

I am not saying this will happen to you of course but always worth been cautious when it is your heart we are dealing with

I think I was lucky I kept getting those warnings before finally getting the op but I would not risk ignoring them so if you feel everything is not quite as it should be a few hours getting checked out is so worth it x

[Hidden]

I am afraid to say you have hit the nail on the head in your own words. Why are you desperate to get back to work?? You need to be desperate to get yourself sorted out your wife is right, as 007 said. If you have a heart Attack it could well be worse for you, much worse. What lifestyle changes were recommended? You HAVE to accept and do these, but that is after you go to A&E the next time it gets bad, or call 999, they would sooner you did. You have a lifetime in front of you stop being stubborn.